OSU Extension Internship Program «

Hello everyone! It’s Aspen again! As I continue through my internship with Clatsop County Extension, I have had the opportunity to support a variety of programs and projects throughout the county. One of the things I have enjoyed most about this internship is that no two weeks look exactly the same. I have been able to help with community programming, create communication and outreach materials and participate in hands-on projects. Each experience has given me a better understanding of the many ways Extension connects with and supports the community.

Aspen and other community volunteers after the first KMUN weed removal workday. Photo: Mari Begeron

One project that has stood out to me so far has been the KMUN weed removal project. This was a very hands-on experience and ended up being a big learning moment for me. We worked with community members and Extension staff to remove invasive Himalayan blackberry and English ivy from the area around KMUN. Throughout the project, we held several community workdays and were able to see the area improve each time we worked on it.

Wiley, Makena and Aspen at the Clatsop County Fair helping with the Master Gardener tabling booth. Photo: Wiley Thompson

What I found especially rewarding was seeing how much can be accomplished when people come together. In total, 21 volunteers and four employees contributed 82 person hours to the project. We also removed eight heaping pickup truck loads of plant debris. Seeing the physical results of everyone’s work made the project feel especially meaningful. The KMUN project also taught me that weed removal is more than just pulling plants out of the ground. I learned that invasive weed management requires planning, follow-up and long-term maintenance. This helped me better understand how Extension education can connect to real-world natural resource management.

Another experience I have really enjoyed was helping at the Clatsop County Fair. This experience felt especially full circle for me because I grew up participating in 4-H. When I was younger, I remember going to fairs and participating in 4-H activities. Now, getting to be on the other side of the fair and help support Extension programs has been a special experience. It has allowed me to see how much work goes into creating the same opportunities I enjoyed growing up.

Along with these experiences, I have also supported other Extension programs through outreach, communications, community programming and creating educational materials. Being involved in different programs has shown me just how broad Extension work really is. One of my biggest takeaways so far is the importance of being willing to try new things. From pulling invasive weeds to helping at the county fair, every experience has taught me something different. I am looking forward to continuing to support programs, meet new people and learn even more throughout the final days of my internship. I am leaving this internship feeling very thankful for the experience this program has given me in the past two summers.

It has been a great few months at the OSU Extension office! Over my time here I have been able to help at a variety of local events. Some of my favorites include the county fair, corn festival, 4-H youth camp, and a water cycle camp. I also had the opportunity to help teach the Spanish classes hosted at our office building. It was fun to see kids progress and be able to help them improve. Soon, I look forward to returning to school and resuming my studies. I will be able to apply some of the things I learned over the summer as a research assistant to an engineer working in field crops, which will be very exciting. Now that I know there are so many more community events than I knew about, I will also try to participate in more of them.

OSU Extension intern, Zach Richards, smiles alongside OSU Extension staff from Marion County during a tabling event. Photo: OSU Extension Marion County

I really loved working here over the summer! One of the highlights of my time as an intern was having the chance to organize and figure out our Makerspace. I spent a lot of time recalibrating and setting up the machines, as well as making sure that people would be able to use them in the future. I was even able to help make things that my coworkers would use in activities that they run. As I mentioned before, I also really liked the community aspect of the job. Working outside was always fun, as was seeing all the community activities come together. Although it was difficult to relate to people who had been part of 4-H their whole lives, I found that the more time I spent around them the more I was able to find enjoyment in what they saw too.

Overall, I feel like my time here has allowed me to learn how to have strong community outreach, as well as helped me learn how to better plan activities. It also helped me understand more of what goes on in the agricultural community around us and has given me a greater appreciation for it. In the future, I will know how to help people engage in the community around them and consider more fully the implications of my work in a larger sense.

– Zach Richards

This summer has been ripe with opportunity and growth, and I am immensely grateful for the experience. Working as an intern for OSU Extension has given me the opportunity to serve my community. I find a lot of joy in knowing that I was able to make someone’s day better and I have been able to do that in this position. Others have been able to do this for me as well.

Otillia Schreuder (left) and Emily Braibish (right) posing with educational materials prepared for garden guests at the 2026 Benton County Fair. Photo: Master Gardener volunteer

One of my responsibilities this summer was to take point on the organization and implementation of the Linn and Benton County fairs for the Master Gardener Program. I worked closely with volunteers from both Linn and Benton Counties to organize volunteers to work in the Demonstration Gardens and spent many hours talking with them in between engaging with visitors. With the shared goal of providing peer reviewed science-based information and answering visitor questions, we were able to get acquainted through our shared love of plants and service. I could see in the volunteers the same passion and dedication that drives me as well.

Master Gardener volunteers, Tom Pfleeger (right) and Ann Brodie (left), show off the new dry farming plot at then Benton County Demonstration Garden during the 2026 Benton County Fair. Photo: Emily Braibish

Over the course of both county fairs, I was able to listen to the volunteers’ stories and learn why they became Master Gardeners. I really enjoyed hearing about how they were able to apply their specific interests and expertise within gardening – like herbalism, horticultural therapy, greenhouse production, research, and education – to the Demonstration Gardens. I could see how each of their influences touched the gardens and made them better.

The photo above was taken at a coffee farm in Costa Rica during a study abroad program. The quote is one that Emily deeply resonates with. Photo: Emily Braibish

I made it my goal to help them however I could in making each county fair successful. The Master Gardener Program is such a beneficial service to the community and it is built on the efforts of the volunteers. One of my biggest take-aways from the OSU Extension Master Gardener Program Internship is that the volunteers’ success is our success. As Extension personnel, it is our job to support them – be the soil they push their roots into so that they may grow.

I hope that I may continue to appreciate the beautiful flowers that the volunteers produce. I wake up each morning excited to go to work and it is a privilege I am very grateful for. Thank you to all of the amazing Extension staff that have welcomed me and taken the time to share their experience with me. I genuinely hope we have the opportunity to work together again in the future.

“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like somebody.” – Brad Montague

– Emily Braibish

As I’ve spent more time in my internship position here at Douglas County Extension, I have gotten to see a side of Extension and 4-H that I didn’t have a good understanding of before. Before my internship, I didn’t realize how much work goes into everything before the fair actually starts. Now that the Douglas County Fair is finished, I have a much better understanding of how much time, planning and work goes into making everything happen for the youth involved in 4-H.

4-H photography exhibits displayed during the Douglas County Fair. Amaya helped organize and set up this section, along with all of the other static project sections. Photo: Amaya Slay

A big part of my internship has been helping with the County Fair. We were preparing in the main Extension office until mid-July, and then moved out to the fairgrounds to begin preparing there, and where we spent about three weeks between preparation, fair and then putting everything away. I spent a lot of time helping in the 4-H office and wherever else I was needed during fair. Some days that meant helping with things in the office, while other times I was helping make sure things around the fair were taken care of. I really enjoyed being able to help with so many different tasks during the week and interacting with all of our 4-H families. One of the things I was most involved with was the static exhibits. I helped with getting interview times set up, communicating with exhibitors and families, preparing the static exhibit building, helping on Static Day, and making sure the exhibits were ready to go for the week of fair. I was also there to help with Static check out. Seeing the whole process from start to finish was probably one of the most valuable parts of my internship. It was a lot of work, but it was rewarding to see everything come together and know that I helped make it happen.

I also really enjoyed getting to work with the youth and public for the week. I saw all of the kids’ names and the projects they were completing on the computer leading up to the fair, but it was so awesome to finally interact with them and put a face to their name.

I would not say that I faced any major struggles during my internship, but I have learned that things do not always go exactly as planned. Especially during the fair, there are a lot of people, projects and things happening at the same time. I learned to take initiative and step in where it was needed, even if I wasn’t sure what I was doing. This experience has taught me many valuable lessons that I will carry with me in future jobs and life endeavors.

Overall, this internship has taught me more than I ever initially thought. I have learned about Extension and 4-H, but I have also learned a lot about working with people, staying organized, coordinating and being willing to help wherever I am needed. Most of all, I am glad I got to experience the County Fair I grew up competing at from the other side and see how much work goes into making it a good experience for the 4-H members. I am grateful for the people I have worked with and for everything I have been able to be a part of during my internship.

– Amaya Slay

It is hard to believe that my summer with OSU Extension is already coming to an end. When I first started this internship, everything was new to me. I was entering a world of food preservation that I knew very little about, and there was so much I had yet to learn. Now that I have reached the end, I can look back and see how much I have grown. My confidence, collaboration skills and understanding of community education have all developed throughout the summer. I can attribute that growth to the new experiences I was able to take part in, the patience everyone I met showed me, and the incredible passion of the MFP volunteers, demonstrating how much can be accomplished when people work together.

Callie poses for future Master Food Preserver publicity and promotional materials. Photo: Katterlea MacGregor

Throughout the summer, I have had the opportunity to work in both Benton and Linn counties and take part in a variety of projects and events. From preparing workshop supplies and organizing resources to attending farmers’ markets and creating educational activities, no two weeks looked exactly the same. Seeing the amount of preparation that happens behind the scenes has given me a new appreciation for the work that goes into creating a successful community program.

One of the biggest surprises of my internship was discovering how much I enjoy creating digital displays and hands-on activities. Whether I was creating a display about canning equipment or helping develop an activity for a farmers’ market, I found that I really enjoy taking information and thinking about how it can be presented in a way that catches someone’s attention. There is something rewarding about creating an activity that makes someone stop, interact and learn something new. This experience has also shown me that communication is a major part of public health. Having good information is important, but finding ways to effectively reach people with that information is just as impactful.

Callie and Master Food Preserver volunteers engaging with the community at the Corvallis Farmers Market. Photo: Katterlea MacGregor

I also learned to become more comfortable when I did not know something. There were plenty of times when I had questions or was learning something for the first time, especially in the world of preservation. Instead of feeling like I needed to have every answer, I learned to ask questions, listen and use the people around me as resources. Getting comfortable with feeling uncomfortable was one of the biggest drivers of my personal growth and confidence.

As I finish my internship, I am grateful for everyone who welcomed me, taught me and gave me the opportunity to be involved. If I could give future interns one piece of advice, it would be to say yes to new experiences. You may start an internship thinking you know what you want to get out of it, only to discover something completely different that you enjoy. I am leaving this internship with new skills, new interests and a better understanding of the kind of work I want to be a part of in the future.
– Callie Bradshaw

Hello! I’m Emma Branson, the intern for OSU Extension in Lane County. I’m a sophomore at the University of Oregon majoring in environmental science with a minor in secondary educational foundations. Since my last blog post, I have enjoyed designing community outreach projects, exploring new tools for my career and leading summer 4-H efforts!

A photo taken after a long and fun day of work. Featured is the crew assisting with the State 4-H Fair exhibit hall clean-up. Photo: Emma Branson

Throughout the summer, I designed multiple themes for spin-to-win wheels to engage community members at events with our Family & Community Health program. The themes are intended to introduce some basic health information while keeping the mood lighthearted including hydration, bone health, the farmers’ market and nutrition. This project was fun to design an interactive outreach method, coordinate logistics and collaborate with staff along the way. We now have a finished copy of the themes for each office in Lane County to reach more communities with our resources!

In early August, I participated in the Virtual Canopy training through Forestry and Natural Resources which showed educators how to use a VR headset program that addresses safety education and career exposure within the forest sector for students. I met some amazing professionals in our community and discussed the many ways we interact with forestry and natural resources daily. This was an amazing opportunity to experience the power of cutting-edge technology and education, all thanks to Extension, which I hope to integrate with my future career.

Of course, the summer has been packed with 4-H fun! I took initiative to create some engaging 4-H lessons and activities for leaders and their clubs. I’m grateful for the opportunity to expand this project and create a meaningful contribution to my 4-H community using my passion for agricultural education. I’ve centered the activities around hands-on engagement, teamwork and thought-provoking discussions to balance learning with fun! Topics covered include biosecurity and farm mapping, market retail cuts and anatomy, basic animal needs and animal health issues. This project opened my eyes to the challenges volunteers face and how to build systems that best support their goals. My intention is to provide volunteers with a bank of educational resources for wherever they meet, at any time of year, of all ages.

At the end of the summer, I happily worked alongside staff and youth from across Oregon to clean and set up the 4-H statics exhibit hall at the state fair! The pride and care the youth took into preparing the space for 4-H was an uplifting reminder of OSU Extension’s positive impact in our communities. I’m grateful to the people and programs at OSU Extension, especially in Lane County, who have inspired me to connect with my community face-to-face and address real problems with hands-on, healthy solutions.

Hello!

As summer comes to an end, I want to reflect on my experience testing well water for nitrate as part of the Groundwater Protection Program. When I started this internship, I knew it would be a great opportunity to engage with the public on critical water issues. I expected my main takeaway to be learning how to communicate scientific information to non-experts. While I gained plenty of experience in that area, I learned an even more valuable lesson: how to deliver bad news with empathy and optimism.

Colleen Lovdokken smiles with a nitrate test. Photo: Abby Thorsen

At nitrate testing clinics, I am not just sharing data; I’m communicating science that affects people’s health, family, finances, and quality of life. I learned to discuss difficult findings in a clear and evidence-based way while also acknowledging individual situations and struggles. This can be challenging, but is also immensely rewarding.

A collage of communication materials laid out on the table. Photo: Colleen Lovdokken

Mixed in with the hard conversations, I also witnessed the legacy of the Groundwater Protection Program. One person who had tested high for nitrate at a previous clinic came in this year with two new water samples. One was taken before filtration and one after. I tested the samples, and the difference was striking. The pre-filtered water still showed high nitrate levels while the filtered sample had no detectable nitrate. Because of our clinic, they learned about the issue, followed treatment recommendations, and now have safer water for themselves and their family.

Balancing the difficult news of high nitrate levels with the relief of a clean test result is hard, and I learned that the good and the bad often go together in community engagement. The lessons I took from this summer will stay with me throughout my future career. I am grateful to OSU Extension for creating space for me to grow into a more thoughtful, well-rounded science communicator.

Colleen Lovdokken

I am officially approaching the end of my internship, and as the summer starts to wind down, I would describe the experience as bittersweet. So far, I have worked at 17 events and conducted hundreds of nitrate screenings. My favorite part of these outreach events is getting to greet and interact with community members in each of the towns we visit. Every town and every person has a different relationship with their water, and getting to hear those stories has been one of my favorite parts of this internship.

Nakayda smiles with the purchased buckets for the creation of emergency kits. Photo: Colleen Lovdokken

This internship has also allowed me to go on side quests into other dimensions of Extension, such as health and small farms. One event that really left an impression on me was working at the Sweet Home Free Farm Stand. This event happens once a month, where the City of Sweet Home purchases food from local farmers and distributes fresh produce to residents for free.

Strawberries at a local Sweet Home farm stand. Photo: Nakayda Jacobs

I am passionate about food security, and this event showed me that it really is possible for communities to make a difference and take care of both their people and their local farmers. It made me feel more hopeful for the future, and it never fails to surprise me how there is a nonstop flow of people who show up for free and healthy produce.

OSU Extension has taught me the importance of looking at the bigger picture and meeting communities where they are. Whether I was testing someone’s well water, helping distribute emergency preparedness supplies, or handing out fresh produce, I was reminded that the work we do is ultimately about connecting people with the knowledge and resources they may need.

As I look toward the end of my internship, I am excited to take everything I have learned with me into whatever comes next. I am looking forward to continuing to grow as a communicator, working with communities, and finding ways to connect people with the natural resources that support them.

Since my last post, many things have changed around here at the Yamhill County Extension office. We have now successfully made it through our week of county fair and are currently preparing for state fair in Salem next week. At our county fair, I got to help with a variety of things like designing and hanging up sponsor posters, handing out awards to our 4-H youth winners, and even driving a golf cart to help shuttle families during animal move-in. I’m happy to say that this year, through better preparation, our fair went on fine without any major issues, making it smoother than years past. Overall, my experience at the fair was enjoyable and fun, even though it might have been very busy at times.

Summer intern, Armando, stands in front of the OSU Extension Service Yamhill County sign in McMinnville, Oregon. Photo: Julie Jensen

Outside of the fair, my experience at this office has also been wonderful. I feel like I’ve become part of a small but inviting local community here. If you missed my initial blog post, it’s important to know that this program is my first experience working with 4-H or Extension ever. I had somewhat known of 4-H growing up, but I had no idea Extension even existed! I’ve enjoyed this program even more because of this fact, as knowing the effort that my office and all the other county offices put in to keep our programs running has truly been something special.

As with everything, however, there have been ups and downs. A challenge I had to overcome this summer was navigating the stress and high intensity of working my first county fair. From this experience, I learned the value of clear and concise communication with my supervisor and coworkers, which might seem like a simple aspect of the job but can be easily overlooked. If I had any advice to give to future interns it would be just how important communication can be. I have a great dynamic with my supervisor here, where I can ask questions and be vocal about any issues I might have.
As of writing, I’m in my last week of my internship. It’s a bittersweet moment, but I’m also looking forward to keeping in contact with my coworkers and potentially coming back here for a future position. My time at this office has not only been fun, but has given me valuable work experience and insight into everyday programs that serve our communities. A key takeaway for me is that more people should be aware of OSU Extension and university extensions in general, as I feel not enough people understand the value of the programs they provide us. This internship was just the start of my experience with OSU Extension and I hope it continues!

Hello everyone! I have had a great summer so far interning in the Clatsop County Extension office and I want to share a little bit about what I have been doing so far. Since I don’t just focus on one program, there are always a variety of activities and projects that I get to be a part of on any given week. This may be my favorite part of my summer. Every week is different and there is always something new to experience or learn. That being said, the last few weeks of my internship will have a main focus: trees.

Makena taking photos of trees for a website and database of notable trees in Astoria. Photo: Aspen Bowling

One event surrounding this topic happens to fall on my last day, so I’m happy I get to participate before I leave; it will be a great way to cap off an already great internship. The event is an urban tree walk around downtown Astoria with an urban forestry specialist. We will stop and learn about some of the historically important and interesting trees in the area as we go along. As someone who studies wood science and has done projects on urban wood and trees in general, I am excited to learn from an urban forester, and maybe even share some of my knowledge with attendees as well. It should be a very fun event, and I am excited that I get to be a part of it.

In conjunction with the event, I have been working to put together a database, website and information handouts for a list of notable trees in Astoria. One of the Master Gardener volunteers has been compiling the list, and I am making it accessible to the public. There are some very interesting trees around Astoria, and it has been so fun to visit them, write about them, and take their pictures to add to the website. It is a big project, but it has been a fun project, and I am excited to see the end result. I hope it can become a great resource in the future that gives people the chance to explore the trees of Astoria and learn more about the forest in their backyard.

OSU Extension Internship Program

OSU Extension intern sees teamwork blossom through project leadership in Clatsop County

OSU Extension intern builds community outreach skills and serves Marion County

OSU Extension intern finds joy in growth and community engagement

OSU Extension intern experiences the hard work, planning and reward of the County Fair

OSU Extension intern embraces a summer of moving from unfamiliar to unforgettable

OSU Extension intern empowers local youth and families through interactive education

OSU Extension intern reflects on the delicate balance of science, empathy and communication

OSU Extension intern looks back on her summer experience

OSU Extension intern reflects on lessons learned from a summer with 4-H and Extension

OSU Extension intern branches out to celebrate Astoria’s trees for a perfect summer finale

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